Does the poet live his own words
Measures up to what his verses promise
Strives for the heights his thoughts reach
Plays the part his writings reflect
Goes to any length to be good
Rids himself of all meanness
Is generous kind faithful trustworthy in his personal life
A lover a friend an aide a benefactor, 
Or at the end of the day
Just a preacher
Who never is as tall as his sermons
But remains a run-o-mill guy
Who endowed with poetic skill
Spins in self-deceit webs of lies! 

Does a poet ever endeavor
To become a poetry in motion?

pradip-chattopadhyay

Poetry in Motion

Jun 6, 2026

June 2026

2026

Anger & Conflict - June 2026

Beauty & Aesthetics - June 2026

Dark & Scary - June 2026

Death & Mortality - June 2026

Drama & Tragedy - June 2026

Family & Relationships - June 2026

Fantasy & Magical - June 2026

Happiness & Joy - June 2026

Heartbreak & Loss - June 2026

Historical & Ancient - June 2026

Hope & Optimism - June 2026

Humor & Satire - June 2026

Inspiration & Motivation - June 2026

Love & Romance - June 2026

Mystery & Supernatural - June 2026

Nature & Environment - June 2026

Philosophical & Intellectual - June 2026

Political & Social - June 2026

Sadness & Melancholy - June 2026

Sexy & Sensual - June 2026

Time & Nostalgia - June 2026

Transformation & Change - June 2026

War & Heroism - June 2026

World & Travel - June 2026

james-g-paul-sr-aka-pablo

All of the above!....a provocative and compelling spill, poet!

k-balachandran

What an incisive look, splendid,dear Pradip
each question has a razor's edge, gleaming 
cuts deep unless handled deftly, for sure
first of all, one is a poet only
at the moments inspired, that has evidence
so definitely not for all 24 hours, all would agree
people call one a poet thinking
he/she is inspired all 24 hours, that's pardonable 
if one is inspired frequent enough, I suppose
can't say there are none, inspired all through their lives, though not writing all of it,
some with divine madness whom in India called"Avadhoots"
and "Bauls" i suppose are singers with such gifts
Poet is not a profession/vocation/nomination/
like journalist or accountant
(that's where versifiers and poet becomes entirely different breeds)
when one's moments of inspiration are frequent
that  attribute becomes permanent, given by those touched by the poetry
then only one serious at this pursuit is  compelled
to agree with that, though sometimes doubtful
but such apprehensions nobody seems to express
Drying up of inspiration a fear, many poets have..
Is a poet in search of beauty, and that alone?
In modern context, it turns out to be sometimes
 even the opposite, which is quite natural(beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yes!)
the poet is in constant search, as the 
itch to express is driven by many motives,
happiness, pain, and all shades of emotions in between,
so poet, I think  cannot be a leader, model, mentor or guru
if it happens its like in any other area of pursuit, incidental..
Baudelaire is just him and his work, hashish/opium habits
remain his personal interests/quirks, if someone emulates,
its on their own risk
poetic skill, enables one to take a hard look at life, ruminate, express
those ones who come up with effulgent moments of human existence,
and make it indelible by chiselling striking images(not mere string of words)
avoiding verbose expression will remain in minds longer
poet may express a hope, or even what he couldn't
one of the much appreciated poet both popular/critically acclaimed/made a 
tremendous social impact, accepted by all strata of people
and deeply stirring in his write,
 fell dead on a road side
he was mourned, eulogised by whole of Kerala
who appreciated his worth, he was a drunkard on the streets
but a fiery spirit in poetry readings, lived a reckless life, an open book.
None asked him whether he was a good man, during the state funeral
though he has earlier requested to be exempted from  'Gun salute'
(Kindly see my poem on him, "three poems on the death of a wanderer poet" in
 'brown critique.blogspotnovember-december 2010)
thank you so much for the chance to look inwards, with those questions..
Bala

shaqila

Interesting question but is anyone absolutely one thing or the other? However, your poetry moves my thinking so can I say your poetry causes motion? Haha!